Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia sets earlier curfew time in al-Qatif, al-Taif, Dammam city
April 3, 2020, 8:16 am

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia sets earlier curfew time in al-Qatif, al-Taif, Dammam city

A Saudi man walks past a poster depicting Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia implemented an earlier curfew start time in the city of Dammam and the governorates of al-Qatif and al-Taif as part of the Kingdom’s measures to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, according to the ministry of interior. Dammam city

The new curfew time, effective Friday will start at 3 p.m. instead of the previously announced 7 p.m.

The ministry said curfew exemptions still apply to those in vital public and private sectors such as security, military, and media. Those who work in health services are also excluded from the curfew.

The Kingdom imposed a quarantine on al-Qatif earlier last month. The temporary suspension of entry and exit was extended from the city’s Saihat district in the south to Safwa in the north, according to the interior ministry. Saudi Arabia also enforced a 24-hour daily curfew in Mecca and Medina on Thursday until further notice

Last week, King Salman bin Abdulaziz approved measures that placed Riyadh, Mecca, and Medina on lockdown, which is still in effect. Residents are still banned from entering or exiting the cities. Dammam city

A total of 1,885 people have contracted the virus in Saudi Arabia as of Thursday and 21 people have died, according to the health ministry. Of the total cases, 328 people have recovered. levant

source: Joanne Serrieh levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”